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23 January 2016

Time for STRAIGHT Talking?

I hate intolerance and blind prejudice. I am therefore worried
that what I am writing here might be construed as the ranting of an intolerant,
prejudiced fascist. I appreciate that in these “politically correct” times I am
tip-toeing around a mine field, and any minute now I might be the victim of an
explosion of outrage from one of those people who like to regard different
groups of people as potential victims.

I am a heterosexual male. There, I’ve said it! But Heterosexual is a long word for today’s
level of education, and it’s deemed preferable to call me “Straight”. If I were
homosexual, then I’d have to describe
myself as “Gay” which, by the way, used to mean lively, animated, vivacious. To those who know me, therefore, I
cannot be regarded as “Gay” in any sense of the word!

Depending upon which set of statistics you are happy to
believe, and which country in the world you are looking at, I represent
somewhere between 90% and 97% of humanity. So why is that I am beginning to
feel like a minority under attack?

We are regularly bombarded by news items, editorials, blogs,
and discussions concerning the so-called “LGBT Community” as if they are
somehow a special breed of humanity requiring preservation and nurture, like
some endangered species of animal.

Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgender people feature in
television programs in proportions that far outweigh their actual number. I
probably wouldn’t feel driven to even mentioning this but for the fact that
they are sometimes thrust into our faces in the most graphical manner; the most
recent manifestation of this was in a spy thriller called “London Spy” put out
by the BBC recently, featuring two of the main male characters in a
no-holds-barred nude scene of frenzied sexual activity, that added absolutely
nothing to the story.

If I want to watch pornography (of any sexual persuasion)
there are plenty of specialist Websites and subscription TV channels available
to me or anyone else who wants to indulge.

I surely cannot be the only “straight male” who – on seeing
two men engaged in a full-on kiss – has to say, “Pass the sick bucket”. It does
make me cringe. Am I alone? Should I be pilloried? For reasons connected with
my male sexuality, seeing two women in a similar situation doesn’t provoke
exactly the same response, but it does provoke a feeling of discomfort and embarrassment,
and of course it might then be my wife calling for the sick bucket! The reason
for the difference in attitude is to do with mentally putting oneself in the
position of one of the participants.

Having said all that, I need to assert that we are all human
beings of equal worth. I really do not care if someone is gay¸ lesbian¸ trans-gender, bisexual, black, brown, Christian, Muslim,
Hindu, Sikh, or atheist so long as they are decent people. What any of them
get up to in their own homes, churches, mosques or synagogues is none of my
business. All that it is necessary to know about someone is .. what is your
real character? Are you good or are you evil? Do you intend to help me or do
you intend to harm me?

I defend all these peoples’ right to exist.

You achieve great things (or fail to achieve them) according
to your own abilities (or lack of them). There should be no special treatment
(with the exception of those who are physically or mentally disabled). Recently
there’s been much soul-searching on the failure of the film world to nominate
black actors for the OSCARS. Why?

Why is there a Black Police Officers Association?

Why is there not a White Police Officers Association?

Why is there not an Association of Police Officers with
Unreasonably Big Noses?

Why is there not an Association for Real Sexual Equality?
(ARSE)

My 13-year old grandson was recently given some homework for
so-called “Philosopy & Ethics” studies. The task was to design a children’s
book, with an appropriate front cover illustration, explaining how to deal with
homosexual partnerships, families with two fathers, families with two mothers,
and so on. Why?

Would he not be better served by being taught the
fundamentals of civilised human relationships without constantly banging on
about the “LGBT Community”?

Would he not be better served by being required to learn
multiplication tables? That would be a novelty, wouldn’t it!

Finally, returning to the subject of TV programs .. if we are
going to get warnings before a program starts that there will be “some strong
language” and “scenes of a sexual nature”, then in the spirit of placing
everyone into labelled boxes, perhaps they could be more specific and say, “There
will be scenes of a homosexual
nature”. Then “straight” guys like me could reach for the Remote.

Lionel Beck

Male Heterosexual

Human Being

Humanist

Atheist

Liberal Democrat

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